Creamy New York Cheesecake with Speculoos Crust
Cheese Cakes Make-ahead Freezable American cuisine Cheesecake Speculoos Fresh cheese Shavuot Festive Hanukkah

Creamy New York Cheesecake with Speculoos Crust

With Shavuot just around the corner, I’m bringing back this cheesecake with its wonderfully creamy texture, all white and glossy. Easy and indulgent without breaking the scale, with a speculoos crust and a delicate hint of lemon, it’s always a huge hit at my house.

Braised Brisket with Figs and Red Wine Sauce
Meat Beef Baked French cuisine American cuisine Israeli cuisine Make-ahead Batch cooking Festive Lactose-free Gluten-free Shabbat Rosh Hashanah Sukkot Fall Winter Passover

Braised Brisket with Figs and Red Wine Sauce

This braised beef brisket is a flavorful dish that I’m sharing with you here with a fig and red wine sauce. The meat is meltingly tender, and it’s perfect for a festive meal, especially for Rosh Hashanah or Sukkot.

Mozzarella Sticks - Crispy Homemade Fried Mozzarella
Appetizer Vegetarian Mozzarella Italian cuisine American cuisine Kids Cheese Brunch Shavuot Buffet Hanukkah

Mozzarella Sticks - Crispy Homemade Fried Mozzarella

Mozzarella sticks (beignets de mozzarella in French) are sticks of mozzarella, breaded and then fried. Here is an easy recipe for making delicious mozzarella sticks at home. Enjoy them as a snack, as a starter with a good homemade tomato sauce or in a nice salad, for a change from warm goat cheese salad.

Sweet Potato Sufganiyot - Easy Hanukkah Doughnuts
Sweet potatoes Buffet Breakfast Snack Brunch Hanukkah Dairy-free Doughnuts Kids

Sweet Potato Sufganiyot - Easy Hanukkah Doughnuts

Sweet potato doughnuts for a change from the traditional Hanukkah sufganiyot. They are soft, sweet and light, and sweet potato is a surprising ingredient that gives them charm and a delicious flavor! No need to fill them, a little powdered sugar and you’re done. Parve recipe.

Smoked Fish Platter (Assiette Nordique) - Scandinavian-Style Cold Plate
Fish Salmon Light Make-ahead Scandinavian cuisine Appetizer Buffet Brunch Swedish cuisine Shavuot Festive Batch cooking No-bake Gluten-free Lactose-free Ashkenazi cuisine Winter Hanukkah Passover

Smoked Fish Platter (Assiette Nordique) - Scandinavian-Style Cold Plate

Served as a cold starter or as a more generous main, the assiette nordique (Nordic platter) is an elegant dish of smoked fish and salad, served with blinis or toast. Here is my suggestion for the one I like to make; you can adapt it to your taste and to whatever you have in the fridge.

Pesto Arancini - Crispy Fried Risotto Balls with Mozzarella
Vegetarian Italian cuisine Cheese Pesto Mozzarella Risotto Rice Kids Appetizer Buffet Finger food Street food Spring Fall Shavuot Hanukkah

Pesto Arancini - Crispy Fried Risotto Balls with Mozzarella

Arancini are little balls that are crispy on the outside and melting on the inside. They’re perfect if you have leftover risotto from the night before, but they’re so good you may end up making risotto just for them! Here’s a vegetarian version with pesto and mozzarella.

Italian Antipasti - Roasted and Marinated Vegetables
Vegetarian Italian cuisine Vegan Gluten-free Make-ahead Batch cooking Kids Appetizer Buffet Brunch Festive Summer Spring Fall Shavuot Hanukkah Lactose-free Shabbat Kemias Seudah shlishit Passover

Italian Antipasti - Roasted and Marinated Vegetables

Roasted and marinated vegetable antipasti are a staple of Italian starters. Colorful and full of flavor, they also make a great side, especially with a beef carpaccio or a beautiful burrata.